US small businesses have never felt this good, at least according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ small business optimism index.
The lobbying group’s monthly index hit 108.8 in August, the index’s highest level in its 45 year history. The reading eclipsed the the previous record high of 108 from July 1983. According to the NFIB, many of the subcategories tracked in the index also hit historic levels.
“Job creation plans and job openings both set new records, reflecting the need for workers and the tightness of the labor supply,” the NFIB said in a release. “Capital spending plans were the highest since 2007 and inventory investment plans the strongest since 2005.”
